A wonderful smell filled the living area of a desolate mansion, herbs and spices filled the air and a wonderful humming could be heard. James strolled down the stairs and was surprised by this scene, as he watched Alisha present him French Toast with a latte made from their coffee machine. "Good morning dad!" she hummed with a smile, "Please try some of my special toast!" she pushed the plate closer to him, grinning broadly.
"Why the good mood?" After living with Alisha for so long, he knew that she wasn't doing this because of her love for him.
"My mood is terrible actually, I simply felt like making my rich dad some breakfast." She mumbled sorrowfully. "I needed to talk to you about Annabelle too."
James glanced back at her, eyebrows in the sky and ushered her to speak, his eyes filled with doubt. Alisha felt annoyed by his doubt, what had she done to earn such mistrust from this miserable man? How troublesome.
"We all know the potential that girl has, her creativity and analytical skill is something that surpasses even you father. That's why I think it would be good for the company if you took her in as an adviser, you know how much she's made with shares alone, she could expand our company even farther. I know it seems like nepotism, but her potential and currently achievements should be enough to give her that position. Even on just a trial basis." Her eyes shone with hope, making James feel concave in his stomach, he was shocked at her sudden interest but agreed with her points.
Annabelle was a genius in business, even if she was dyslexic her ability to see potential and improve sales was incredible. What she saw as an obvious move would take others months to decide to do. He took a bite of the French Toast as he thought, only to stop in awe of the flavours in his mouth. It was truly delicious toast, he stared at his daughter, wonder what else she was hiding in her hair*.
He nodded and began, "It's something I too have been considering for some time. Can you call your cousin and ask her to meet with me at 4 pm today? I have a free hour at that time." He didn't avert his gaze, and his next words brought an odd warmth to Alisha, "You're doing a law degree, right? You'll need work experience soon, you should also work with the company lawyers for some time." A light blush decorated his face and Alisha's too, this was probably only the second time he had offered her something good in both lives.
"Thank you dad, I will... Also, the blind date yesterday went interesting but George is not interested in me, which is reciprocated." She stated before she tried to get up and leave.
"Stop." She was startled by his dominating voice, so she immediately stopped and returned to her original standing position, across the kitchen counter from her father as he munched on her French Toast atop a high-chair. "Eliza couldn't stop blubbering about George to me last night. She went to Orchid not Delta, and no one knows how you could have known so much. Tell me, how did you know so much?"
Alisha smiled, leaned into the counter, so James too leaned in closer, he wanted to humour his daughter's antics, she simply reflected his eyes. Then she closed the gap between his cheek and her lips, gave him a peck, giggled and skipped away. "I'll tell you some other day dad!"
If she had turned around, he would have seen the cold look in her eyes, and she would have seen the deep blush on his face. Perhaps in this life, there was a possibility of her father trying to love her. But it might be too late for her to reciprocate the feeling.
James touched his face, and a second later he composed himself. He continued his daily routine, but he had an air of warmth to him no one had seen in years, the day went well for all his employees too.
"Hey BellaAnne!" greeted a chipper Alisha after calling her cousin.
"Hi ShiAla***" She was greeted back, both girls laughed and Alisha continued the conversation.
"I was hoping you could meet with the GrumpBomb at 4 pm today to talk about you becomi-"
"Ewwww. I don't wanna meet the Grumpster, he's such a bore."
"Trust me, if you want some monay**** then you want to go that meeting. I talked him into giving you a job as his adviser for business, I know he's grumpy, but it's an amazing opportunity. Plus, the company is yours anyways, you might as well start trying to make your way into the company."
"Okay, but let's pro con this, pro: I get monay, con: I spend time with GrumpFrumps. Oh, the pains, but anything for monay. 4 pm, right? I will be there or be square!"
"Yayy! Thank you BellaAnne, I lurve you!"
"No problem, but I can't reciprocate the emotions your feeling... I have someone new in my life."
"Are you cheating on me?"
"I'm so sorry, I'm cheating on you. I have a man that I lurve, I can't hold it in anymore."
"Oh... Oh my...This pain in my chest, oh... it's suffocating. Who is this terrible person? Who must I kill?"
"His name is Bruce, he's amazing. Can you come with me to dinner tonight and meet him?"
Suddenly, and idea popped into Alisha's head, a classic one stone two bird situation had arisen.
"Can I bring the Richman with me? It'll be more fun, plus you two need to catch up too."
"Of course! Maybe Lizard and Freddo can come too!"
"Mmm! I'll make sure they do!"
"Okay, I need to go, cheerio, my concubine!"
"Ciao Bella!"
A smirk spread on Alisha's face, devious was the only way to describe it. She strolled to her bed, sighed and flopped onto it like a pancake. She had forgotten her greatest enemy.
Diana Richards, the woman who betrayed her and her ex-husband, the woman that killed her baby. She knew that as of now, that evil b*tch hadn't done anything, but her blood boiled at even the potential of that murder happening. Though she blamed Bryan in her heart for all of the death, this one was a death that had torn his smile apart too. The usually cool, calm Bryan had fallen ill for a month, he had miscalculated his actions.
She hadn't blamed him at the time, she didn't talk to him for months after hearing Diana's reason for murder, but she forgave him because they both needed someone to lean on. This time, her baby wouldn't be born, for she would get rid of Bryan. But she needed to get back at Diana, she needed to satiate her thirst for revenge, she wanted to get rid of a witch.
She knew that Diana was infatuated with Bryan, she needed to use that. Maybe getting rid of Bryan right now wasn't a good idea, she could use Bryan to exploit Diana, use him to make her life hell. But how? Though love was powerful, Diana would get over the heartbreak, Bryan was just another boy. No, she needed to take the thing that kept Diana going away, she needed to take away Diana's beauty. Without her picture perfect face, Diana would just be another woman, she had nothing special to her.
She knew that Bryan was going to break it off with Diana soon, but she also knew that Diana wasn't going to let him be. She sent a message to Bryan 'Don't break it off with Diana yet'. As expected, she got an immediate response.
'Hello Alisha, why?'
'The timing isn't right yet. Instead I need you to do something for me.'
'What?'
'Pretend you're in love w her'
'Y would I do that?'
'If you don't you're going to be exposed'
'Isn't she your mother?'
'Step-mother.'
'Still...'
'Do as I say. Make her fall in love with you, and then break up with her three months from today.'
'I want something in return.'
Alisha froze, she didn't feel that she had to give him anything, she'd already given him her life. No, he had stolen that from her. But she asked him, purely out of curiosity.
'What do you want?'
'To meet again, for every date I have with Diana I get half a date from you. 2 dates w Diana = 1 date w Alisha'
'No. I don't like you.'
'OUCH!'
'Bryan, you don't seem to understand the current situation. I am holding something over you, you can't be asking me for anything.'
'Okay, ok. If it weren't for your rich daddy you wouldn't be able to have so much confidence yknow'
'If it wasn't for your rich daddy you wouldn't be f****** Diana or be allowed to so much as look at me'
'Touche'
'*Middle Finger Emoticon*'
'Damn girl, you mean.'
She shut her phone and left him on read, the best response anyone could give to an annoyance like Bryan. He was less goofy in her last life, but she knew that his texting habits were the same. He always talked serious but texted like a thirteen year old. She recalled one of his messaged from her past life, he had left the house but forgotten his keys, she was with Eliza at the time.
'Honey I Lost the Keys... that's the movie I'll be starring in.'
'You lost them?!'
'Well, lost is a bit of a push, more for the dramatics.'
'???'
'Can you come home? I left my keys inside and I'm locked out now.'
'Idiot'
'I know you are but what am I?'
'You little-'
'I know. I'm Idiot.'
'Nice to meet you.'
'Can you come home?'
'Yes. Give me 20 mins.'
'Cya soon!'
'*Eye-roll Emoticon*'
She laughed at the memory, there were indeed good times. But now all she saw was his manipulation, the key probably hadn't been forgotten, it had been left. He wanted her all for himself, he hated her spending time with Eliza or anyone, he wanted to keep her in his cage. She assumed that he was like this with anything he 'loved', he didn't share it with anyone. She knew that he had lost his mother at a young age, but she didn't know what that lady died from. Maybe I'll look into it, Alisha thought, I want to know what lead him to become what he is.
To Alisha the 'Why' was as important as the event itself; why was Bryan the way he was? She needed answers before she could start her revenge, for if she fixed the problem at its core she might lead a safe life without having to commit murder. Yes, she planned on killing Bryan, the intent burned in her mind, did that make her evil? Yes. But the person she was in her past life was also 'evil', for ignorance is also a sin.
She called up a Private Investigator (PI), Sherry Thomas, who was the best in the world. The number was given to her by Mr Thompson, who was instructed to do so by her father, he wasn't the richest man in the world because he was kind to his enemies. Scheming was a ritual in the Richards family, in order to survive in their world, they needed to scheme and deceive. Their company was of course also a leader in the underground dealings, they controlled the police, the politicians, everything. They owned banks, and had a branch in almost every field possible.
"Good morning, Ms Thomas, this is Richards daughter 2, Alisha." She stated, paused, and continued, "Code 00004, difficulty to be determined."
Beep! "Good morning Alisha Richards 00004. What would you like me to investigate?" An almost robotic voice responded.
"Please investigate Bryan Martinez, his entire life thus far. Also, all the details regarding his mother's death including reliable rumours."
"Difficulty AAA, price two hundred, deducted from account of Alisha Richards."
"Thank you."
Beep!
The call was over. Fate's railway road changed a little bit again.